Training device for swimmers

ABSTRACT

A training device for swimmers which includes a framework with vertically disposed end frame sections having a cushioned body support provided therebetween to support a swimmer in an elevated prone or supine position for relatively free arm and leg movement, weights in weight cages at each corner of the end frame sections, hand hold grips tied to weight lifting ropes received through pulleys on the front frame section for fore and aft activated arm-shoulder muscle group toning, and foot slings tied to weight lifting ropes received through pulleys on the back frame section for vertical activated leg-pelvic muscle group toning. For easy access to the weights, the weight cages in which they are housed are provided with an open side and are pivotally mounted.

United States Patent [191 Hessburg [451 May 14,1974

1 1 TRAINING DEVICE FOR SWIMMERS [76] Inventor: Philip C. Hessburg, 1169Three Miles Dr., Grosse Pointe, Mich. 48236 22 Filed: June 29,1972

21 App1.No.:267,675

[52] U.S. CI. 272/71, 272/81 [51] Int. Cl A631) 69/10 [58] Field ofSearch 272/26, 71, 80, 81; 128/71, 75

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,395,672 11/1921 Fischer272/71 2,706,632 4/1955 Chandler 272/80 2,949,110 8/1960 Lee 128/752,434,542 1/1948 Borroughs 272/71 149,249 3/1874 Redfearn 272/71 896,1148/1908 Jacobson 128/71 964,836 7/1910 Sickels 272/71 PrimaryExaminer-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-R. T. Stouffer Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Dale Austin Winnie 5 7] ABSTRACT A training device forswimmers which includes a framework with vertically disposed end framesections having a cushioned body support provided therebetween tosupport a swimmer in an elevated prone or supine position for relativelyfree arm and leg movement, weights in weight cages at each corner of theend frame sections, hand hold grips tied to weight lifting ropesreceived through pulleys on the front frame section for fore and aftactivated arm-shoulder muscle group toning, and foot slings tied toweight lifting ropes received through pulleys on the back frame sectionfor vertical activated leg-pelvic muscle group toning. For easy accessto the weights, the weight cages in which they are housed are providedwith an open side and are pivotally mounted.

3 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures TRAINING DEVICE FOR SWIMMERS BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION Various devices and different forms of apparatus have beenproposed in the past for teaching nonswimmers the fundamentals ofswimming and different swimming strokes.

Some of these simply include large body slings to support a person inthe water and to enable an instructor to stand-by and give instructions.Others have been more complicated devices, and quite expensive, for usein schools and training institutions which require manipulation by thearms and legs in a particular manner, dictated by the equipment, inorder to simulate various swimming strokes.

Although some of these devices have been usable by swimmers for practicealmost all of them have been designed'to teach a particular swimmingstroke rather than to assist in the actual development and toning of thenecessary muscles for competitive swimmers.

Since only a small portion of the populated world has year round use ofoutdoor pools and relatively few people have access to indoor pools,there is a definite need for a dry land excercising deviceforcompetitive swimmers who should exercise two or three times daily.Besides being relatively simple and consequently reasonably priced, suchapparatus must fulfill certain basic requirements to attain the desiredand necessary results.

For example, the muscle groups of primary importance in various swimmingstrokes must be preferentially stressed and the muscle groups about thearmshoulder and leg-pelvic girdles must be simultaneously rather thanindividually stressed. This is particularly important in the developmentof neurogenic pathways to assure coordinated arm and leg stroke rhythms.The equipment itself must be relatively simple to manufacture, to keepthe cost down, readily adjustable or adaptable for use by both adultsand children and it must be stable and sturdy enough for daily use byhard working athletes and it must be so swim-related that it can andwill be effectively used to replace actual pool time.

The apparatus of the present invention required close monitoring ofmuscles and muscle groups by observation and by palpation to assureproper angles of pull, torque lines, and dimensional limits to assureprecise dry land conformity with actual swimming conditions.

Although kick and pull exercises properly directed assure thestrenghthening of certain muscle groups, they do not develop automaticor subcortical relationships between the arm and leg movements.Accordingly, arm and leg movements must be simultaneously effected andin a coordinated manner to assure proper rhythm. Certain simple meansused with the apparatus disclosed assure such rhythmic and coordinatedmovement and preclude other than synchronized arm-leg movements.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention comprises atubular framework including vertically disposed end frame sectionsspaced apart sufficiently to receive a swimmer in a horizontal proneposition on a body supporting member therebetween and in a manner whichallows relative freedom of arm and leg movement, as in allconvention'ally known swimming strokes.

Weights are hung on each corner of the end frame sections, within weightcages to limit their movement up and down and sideways and guide ropesare reeved through strategically placed sets of pulleys and areconnected to hand-hold grips and foot slings that are activated by a dryland swimmer on the body support mem ber.

The simplicity of the framework assures its relatively low cost, itsdimensional size enables use by adults and children and the dispositionof the weight activating hand-hold grips and foot slings enables readyuse and like muscle group exercising regardless of the persons height.

The weights maybe conveniently changed-to suit the novice or experiencedathletic swimmer and variations permit the use of the equipment for avariety of different swimming strokes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theswim training apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top-plan view of the training apparatus with a part of theoverhead frame brace broken away to better show the body support member.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are end views of the opposite and frame sections of thetraining apparatus shown in the first two drawing figures with parts ofthe weight cages broken away.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are pictorial presentations of a swimmer using the presentapparatus in practicing different swimming strokes.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail view of one of the foot slings. v

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side view of an intermediate cross member withadapter ropes on one side and a foot sling connection on the other, asused in training for the frog-like kick used in the breast stroke.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are respectively enlarged detail views, from the side andtop, of a detail of the weight cages showing their hinged connection tothe end frame sections.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT The training device shown inthe drawing figures includes a frame l0 comprising a vertically disposedfront frame section 14, lower connecting side rails 16 and I8, and anoverhead centrally disposed connecting beam 20, that extends between thetwo end frame sections.

The two end frame sections 12 and 14 and the overhead beam 20 are madeof square sectional tubular iron or steel stock and the two side rails16 and 18 are of angle iron stock. Flat angle strap 22 is used to fastenthe side rails to the frame sections and the overhead beam 20 isfastened by appropriate brackets, not speframe section 12, a verticallydisposed back A cushioned body support 36 is provided within the frameon a supporting rail 38 fastened to the intermediate cross member 34,'onthe front frame section and held in a horizontally disposed dispositionby a vertical leg 40 on a cross bar 42 between the two frame side rails16 and 18. Suitable diagonal braces between the support leg 40 and therail 38, as well as between the leg and cross bar 42 assures thenecessary stability for the body supporting member 36.

The body support 36 is only about 8 inches wide at its forward end, justenough to provide support for the upper torso, and it is flared out nearthe back to about 17 inches to provide support for the lower trunk andso that a person lying on the body support has relative freedom of botharm and leg movement.

. The back or afterend frame support 14 includes vertical frame members46 and 48 with cross members 50 and 52 between their ends and has nointermediate cross member. Consequently there is an open expanse betweenthe upper and lower cross members allowing relative freedom of footmovement in this area, as required.

In order to provide more arm and shoulder room, for a dry land swimmerusing the training device, the front frame section 12 stands somewhattaller than the after frame section 14 so that the overhead connectingbeam 20, between the end frames, is higher at the front end.

Referring now to the two end frame sections, best shown in FIGS. 3 and4, it will be noted that, weight cages 54,56,58 and 60 are provided oneach of the vertical frame members. The weight cages are formed by strapiron members 62 forming three sides of a square and having wire rod 64extending between them in a cage forming manner. Although an open endedcylindrical member might be used to retain the weights, the open cage ispreferred for greater ease in seeing what weights are in use and forchanging them, as will be described.

Over the weight cages 54 and 56 on the front frame section 12, extendingout from the overhead cross member 30, are provided arms 66 and 68 forpulleys 70 and 72. A second set of pulleys 74 and 76 are hung on theframe cross member, on relatively opposite sides of the center beam 20,and another set of pulleys 78 and 80 are provided on the intermediatecross bar on member 34 just below them.

Hand ropes 82 and 84 are reeved through the different sets of pulleysand are provided with weights 86 and 88 at their ends, in the weightcages, and hand grips 90 and 92 which are accessible to a dry landswimmer on the cushioned body support 36. The right hand rope 82 passesthrough pulleys 78,74 and 70 and the left hand rope is threaded throughpulleys 80,76 and 72.

The hand ropes are tied and knotted onto the weights 86 and 88, so thatthey can be untied and changed if heavier or lighter weights-aredesired.

sides of where the overhead connecting beam 20 is joined to it.

Leg ropes 108 and 110 are received through the pulleys on the afterframe section, just as at the front frame section, and are provided withweights 112 and 114 at their ends, in the weight cages, and with footslings 116 and 1 18 to receive the feet of a dry land swimmer using thetraining device. The left rope 108 is threaded through pulleys 104 and100 and the right rope 1'10 passes through pulleys 106 and 102.

FIG. 7 shows the foot sling l 16 as fastened to its rope 108 A snap hookconnector 120 is tied to the end of the rope and is used to engage aring 122 on a bolt 124 which fixes the two ends of the leather or canvassling 116 together. This enables the sling to be disengaged and replacedor moved, as will be discussed'later.

Wherever the hand or foot ropes are I tied, to the weights, to the handgrips or at the snap hook connectors, short lengths of rubber tubing 126are used to hold the loose end of the tied rope and also to serve asbumper stops should they engage the various pulleys.

FIG. 8 shows a crossbar 128 that is fastened to the overhead connectingbeam 20 between the end of the body support 36 and the end frame 14, asby a pair of bolt fasteners 130. Eye bolts 132 and 134 are provided atopposite ends of the cross bar and pulleys 136 and 138 are connected tothem to receive extra lengths of rope 140 and 142 with snap hookconnectors 144 at their ends.

For .the frog kick that a swimmer must practice, as in the breaststroke, the foot slings-ll6 and 118 are removed from the ropes 108 and110, the extra lengths of rope 140 and 142 are connected in theirplaceand the foot slings are engaged to the snap hook connectors on the ropes140 and 142 to hang down from the cross bar 128 closer to the dry landswimmer and spread a little further apart as shown in H6. 6.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show details of the weight cages and in particular howthey are hung on the vertical members of the end frames and made toswing open for access to the weights. Since the cages carry no weight,other than their own, short vertical pins 146 are welded to the cagemembers 62 to be received in aligned eye bolts 48 fastened to thevertical frame members, for supporting them on the frame members andallowing, them freedom of pivotal movement sideways to expose theweightsenclosed within them. Then a closure pin 150 is fastened to theother side of the cage members 62 to set in a single eye bolt 152fastened either to the front frame crossmember 34 or to a strap 153welded to the vertical frame member and extended out sidewardly. Theweight cages are simply lifted slightly to disengage the closure pin 150from its eye bolt, swung open, swung back, lifted and set in place.

A further accessory for the disclosed training device is shown only inthe first drawing figure. It includes a floor plate member 154 with aplurality of holes 156 spaced about 2 /2 inches to 3 inches apart'whichare made to receive and hold erect poles 158 of various lengths so thatthey may be strategically located to re quire certain arm movements ofthe dry land swimmer. For example, a set of low poles may be used topreclude a low elbow-straight arm recovery in a free style stroke byrequiring the arm to clear the obstacle in an elbowhigh manner, Thefloor plate 154 may be placed ahead of cross bar 42 to correct errors inthe mechanics of the arm stroke, or behind the crossbar 42 to correcterrors in the leg kick.

CONSTRUCTION AND ASSEMBLY The disclosed apparatus is preferable madewith the two end sections 12 and 14 of pre-welded construction formaximum strength and stability; However, separate pieces may be providedand bolted together for a knock-down assembly.

The two side rails 16 and 18 are bolted to the end frames, as is theoverhead back-bone connecting bar 20. And the body supporting rail 38,its leg 40 and the cross bar 42 are similarly fastened to the cross bar34 and between the side rails 16 and 18.

The cushioned body support member 36 is securely fastened to thesupporting rail 38 but, if desired, may be set for different positionson the supporting rail. However, this is not really necessary since thefoot sling ropes are hung for the average height swimmer and whetherthey are inclined slightly forward, for a shorter person, or rearwardly,for a taller person, is of no serious consequence.

The overhead cross bar 128 is placed across the center beam and securelyfastened to it and the short lengths of rope 140 and 142 are normallywrapped around its ends so that they are out of the way when they arenot being used.

OPERATIONAL USE In the use of the disclosed apparatus, a swimmer liesface down on the cushioned body support 36 in a manner to support theupper and lower body trunk and with the lower pelvic area essentially atthe back of the support. The legs extend rearwardly towards the after'frame section 14 and the swimmers toes are pointed downwardly, if theswimmer is practicing a free style or butterfly kick. If he is frogkicking, as in the breast stroke kick, then the slings 116 and 118 arelooped about the foot and toes point outwardly. If the swimmer intendsto practice a backstroke, he lies on his back with the loops of slingsI16 and 118 about the ankle and his toes point upwardly.

The weight lifting ropes 108 and 110 at the after frame section are ofsuch length that the weights 112 and 114 are lifted from a rest positionat the bottom of their respective weight cages when the foot slings 116and ll8'are in use and will not bottom in use. Consequently, the weightsimpose a natural resistance toa down stroke kick similar to what aswimmer experiences in the water.

The hand grips 90 and 92 are retained 'on the body support rail, on thepost 94, until ready for use for easy access to a swimmer lying on thebody support, and the ropes 82 and 84 connected to them are also of sucha length that their respective 'weights 86 and 88 are raised from a restposition at the bottom of their re spective weight cages and will notbottom in the extended arm position of the swimmer.

Since all four of the weight cages are readily opened and all four ofthe weights are merely tied to the ends of the hand hold and foot ropes,it follows that the ropes may be tied to provide shorter or longerlengths for swimmers having appreciablydifferent arm stroke and kickingtravel lengths. However, normally the travel allowed is adequate formost swimmers and the open cages are more for changing the weights thanthe rope lengths.

6 The use of the present equipment for free style swimming practice. isshown in FIG. 5. The dry land swimmer is disposed on the body support ina manner to provide complete and simultaneous freedom of action for bothhis arms and legs. The same muscle groups of importance in actual wetswimming are under stress at ap propriate times in each stroke on thedry land apparatus due to the particular torque lines and angles of pullbuilt into the apparatus. The lifting of the weights simulates theresistance of the water against the arm and leg strokes and the timingof the arm and leg returns, during the fall of the weights, introducesatiming in the return strokes necessary to preclude a dropping of theweights; that is, in practice, the weights are underconstant control inbeing both raised and lowered.

Swimming is a neuromuscular activity which involves the whole body andwhich requires precise mental control for coordination of both arm andleg muscle groups in a rhythmic relationship. While voluntary muscularcontrol is exercised by the cerebral cortex, in actual swimming thebrain must be trained or programmed so that the-relationship of theactions of the body muscles becomes rhythmic automatic response.

Consequently, the present device not only subjects all four limbs tostress and relief situations but it also allows and may be soinstrumented that it requires a rhythmic response andcoordination, whichmay vary with different swimming strokes, that will implant thenecessary rhythmic patterns in the brain for automatic conditionedresponse under actual wet swimming conditions.

To further groove the brain for proper swimming strokes, mechanicaldevices such as the peg board floor plate 154 and poles 158, shown inFIG. 1, may be used. With younger aged swimmers, it is relatively commonto have a low elbow-straight arm recovery in the free style stroke. Toassist in self-correction" of this typical error the poles 158 arepositioned so that with each recovery the arm must clear the top of thepoles in an elbow high fashion. If the elbow is too low, the arm is notallowed to pass and the younger swimmer soon learns that to maintain thefree style rhythm he must have a high elbow to bypass the poles. Aspractice continues he eventually accepts the correct stroke recovery asnatural and the straight arm low-elbow recovery is completely unnaturaland foreign to him. Another example of use of the poles I58 is in thebutterfly pull, usually described as a key-hole pattern. Here again thepoles are placed to require the correct stroke and to imprint thenatural pattern of the brain.

FIG. 6 shows the apparatus in use for the breast stroke where a frogkick is used. Since this leg kick is from a completely different anglethan in other strokes, the foot slings are hung on the extension ropes140 and 142 on the cross bar 128 and the extensions are connected to theleg ropes 108 and to activate the weights 11.2 and 114. When the ropesare so arranged the swimmer lifts the weights by simultaneouslyextending the thighs and legs and adducting the thighs and legs. Thissimulates the line of force vector followed in the water by the legs inthe breast kick.

Variations beyond what'has been shown and de* scribed are alsoconceivable in coordinating arm and leg kick movements. These involvesuch as double or triple clutching means on the foot ropes, for exampleto induce and train the swimmer to perform two or three leg kicks toeach arm pull in free style swimming,

Aside from strengthening and toning the necessary swimming muscles andmuscle groups, it will be appreciated that the disclosed equipment alsoinduces and teaches the automatic conditioned response which makes forgood and profficient-swimmers' 1 claim:

1. A training device for swimmers, comprising; 7

a framework including a vertically disposed front frame section and avertically disposed after frame section having a body support fixedagainst relative movement therebetween and to receive a swimmer in anelevated prone position thereon, said body support affording body trunksupport only and relative freedom of leg and arm movement at oppositeends thereof for a swimmer disposed thereon, and independent variablepull-force resistant means provided on said frame sections and havingpulley connected ropes engaged thereto and disposed for independent handand foot activation by a swimmer for swimming muscle development andcoordination control, said frame sections including vertical supportmembers at'each corner and said pullforce resistant means includingvariable weights supported by said pulley connected ropes for verticalmovements relative to said vertical support members, including weightcages provided on said vertical supportsand disposed to contain andguide said weights in the course of their vertical movement, said weightcages being pivotally mounted on said verticalmembers and having an openside for ready access to said weights by being swung open sidewardly.

2. A training device for swimmers, comprising;

a framework including a vertically disposed front frame section and avertically disposed after frame section having a body support fixedagainst relative movement therebetween and to receive a swimmer in anelevated prone position thereon, said body support affording body trunksupport only and relative freedom of leg and arm movement at oppositeends thereof for a swimmer disposed thereon, and independent variablepull-force resistant means provided on said frame sections and havingpulley connected ropes engaged thereto and disposed for independent handand foot activation by a swimmer for swimming muscle development andcoordination control, said frame sections including vertical supportmembers at each corner and said pull force resistant means includingvariable weights or two dolphin kicks for each butterfly arm pull.Similarly, bumper stops and other means may be used to require a certainare for a kick or arm pull, absent which the natural rhythm of thestroke is interrupted.

supported by said pulley connected ropes for vertical movement relativeto said vertical support members, including sets of pulleys provided onsaid frame sections and including one pair on said front frame sectiondisposed together in relatively close spaced relation and in relativehorizontal alignment with and forwardly of said body support for saidhand activated pulley connected ropes and to require simulated forwardpulling arm strokes by a swimmer in the use thereof.

3. A training device for swimmers, comprising;

a framework including-vertically disposed relatively open rectangularend frame sections having longitudinally disposed rails connectedtherebetween to provide a relatively open box-like space therewithin; across rail provided'on one of said end frame sections and having ahorizontally disposed rail and supporting leg connected centrallythereto and a body supporting member fixedly mounted against relativemovement on top of said horizontally disposed rail to'receive a swimmerin an elevated prone position between said frame sections and to affordrelative freedom of arm and leg movement within said framework, a firstset of rope l pulleys provided at each of the corners of said end framesections, a weight cage and a free hanging weight provided in each-ofsaid weight cages at each of the corners of said end frame sections, asecond set of rope pulleys provided on each of said end frame sectionsin relative horizontal alignment with said first set of rope pulleys andin close spaced proximity centrally of said end frame sections andrelatively spaced above said body support near opposite ends thereof,foot receptive slings having pulley ropes engaged thereto and reevedthrough said pulleys sets on the end frame section behind said bodysupport and engaged to said weights in said weight cages on said endframe section, a third set of rope pulleys provided on the cross rail ofthe other of said end frame sections relatively under the second set ofrope pulleys provided thereon in relative horizontal alignment with andforwardly of said body supporting member, and a pair of hand'hold gripshaving pulley ropes engaged thereto and reeved through said pulley setson said forwardly disposed end frame section, said foot receptive slingsand said hand hold grips being disposed for activation by a swimmer onsaid body support and for raising and lowering the weights connectedthereto in the simulation of dry I land swimming exercises.

1. A training device for swimmers, comprising; a framework including avertically disposed front frame section and a vertically disposed afterframe section having a body support fixed against relative movementtherebetween and to receive a swimmer in an elevated prone positionthereon, said body support affording body trunk support only andrelative freedom of leg and arm movement at opposite ends thereof for aswimmer disposed thereon, and independent variable pull-force resistantmeans provided on said frame sections and having pulley connected ropesengaged thereto and disposed for independent hand and foot activation bya swimmer for swimming muscle development and coordination control, saidframe sections including vertical support members at each corner andsaid pull-force resistant means including variable weights supported bysaid pulley connected ropes for vertical movements relative to saidvertical support members, including weight cages provided on saidvertical supports and disposed to contain and guide said weights in thecourse of their vertical movement, said weight cages being pivotallymounted on said vertical members and having an open side for readyaccess to said weights by being swung open sidewardly.
 2. A trainingdevice for swimmers, comprising; a framework including a verticallydisposed front frame section and a vertically disposed after framesection having a body support fixed against relative movementtherebetween and to receive a swimmer in an elevated prone positionthereon, said body support affording body trunk support only andrelative freedom of leg and arm movement at opposite ends thereof for aswimmer disposed thereon, and independent variable pull-force resistantmeans provided on said frame sections and having pulley connected ropesengaged thereto and disposed for independent hand and foot activation bya swimmer for swimming muscle development and coordination control, saidframe sections including vertical support members at each corner andsaid pull-force resistant means including variable weights supported bysaid pulley connected ropes for vertical movement relative to saidvertical support members, including sets of pulleys provided on saidframe sections and including one pair on said front frame sectiondisposed together in relatively close spaced relation and in relativehorizontal alignment with and forwardly of said body support for saidhand activated pulley connected ropes and to require simulated forwardpulling arm strokes by a swimmer in the use thereof.
 3. A trainingdevice for swimmers, comprising; a framework including verticallydispOsed relatively open rectangular end frame sections havinglongitudinally disposed rails connected therebetween to provide arelatively open box-like space therewithin; a cross rail provided on oneof said end frame sections and having a horizontally disposed rail andsupporting leg connected centrally thereto and a body supporting memberfixedly mounted against relative movement on top of said horizontallydisposed rail to receive a swimmer in an elevated prone position betweensaid frame sections and to afford relative freedom of arm and legmovement within said framework, a first set of rope pulleys provided ateach of the corners of said end frame sections, a weight cage and a freehanging weight provided in each of said weight cages at each of thecorners of said end frame sections, a second set of rope pulleysprovided on each of said end frame sections in relative horizontalalignment with said first set of rope pulleys and in close spacedproximity centrally of said end frame sections and relatively spacedabove said body support near opposite ends thereof, foot receptiveslings having pulley ropes engaged thereto and reeved through saidpulleys sets on the end frame section behind said body support andengaged to said weights in said weight cages on said end frame section,a third set of rope pulleys provided on the cross rail of the other ofsaid end frame sections relatively under the second set of rope pulleysprovided thereon in relative horizontal alignment with and forwardly ofsaid body supporting member, and a pair of hand hold grips having pulleyropes engaged thereto and reeved through said pulley sets on saidforwardly disposed end frame section, said foot receptive slings andsaid hand hold grips being disposed for activation by a swimmer on saidbody support and for raising and lowering the weights connected theretoin the simulation of dry land swimming exercises.